A fortuitous virtue, given how his present circumstances require many compartments.

Decker’s wife, Jessie, is expecting their first child, a girl, in the next week or two. Broncos fans have become familiar enough with their star wide receiver to guess little Miss Decker is going to be a daddy’s girl.

“She’ll have me wrapped around her finger,” Decker said.

Meanwhile, Decker is in great position to become a rich dad after three productive seasons with the Broncos.

If only he knew who will be writing his paychecks, in which NFL city, and for how much.

Each man has his own set of nerves, but Decker must split his between first-time fatherhood and career uncertainty. He also knows it could be worse.

“I have a lot going on, no question about it,” Decker said Monday morning. “I’m anxious about what lies ahead for me. We don’t have a baby room set up. That’s No. 1. And then professionally … I’m excited and blessed to have this opportunity in free agency, and having a baby.

“I guess right now I can’t wait to get the process started, and then to get it over with so I can get settled and get ready for the next chapter in my life.”

The defending AFC champion Broncos want Decker back and Decker would like to stay. Money might separate them. A free agent, Decker is expected to command a multiyear contract worth $8 million to $9 million per year as one of the top “No. 2” receivers in the NFL.

Decker’s agent, Todd France, and the Broncos had preliminary discussions about a contract during the scouting combine last week in Indianapolis.

But an indication the Broncos want Decker to lower his asking price is that general manager John Elway said the receiver and all of Denver’s free agents will be allowed to test the market before engaging in serious negotiations. The league’s free-agent market opens March 11.

“I did read that,” Decker said. “I respect his decision. Obviously, he has a philosophy in the way he does business. We’ll see what it brings.”

There are monetary figures working in favor of Decker returning to the Broncos. But there also are menacing numbers that might force the Decker family to move its crib.

If Decker leaves, the Broncos will have a gaping hole to fill between No. 1 receiver Demaryius Thomas and slot man Wes Welker. The Broncos’ No. 4 receiver, Andre Caldwell, also is a free agent, although the team is expected to try to bring him back.

Caldwell would then get a chance to compete for Decker’s “No. 2” role, but the Broncos also would likely sign a veteran free agent who could play for closer to $3 million to $5 million per year.

Again, this supposes Decker leaves, when both parties hope he stays.

Working to spare him moving expenses is the NFL’s salary cap increase from $123 million to $133 million. Additionally, the Broncos are rolling over $6.4 million of salary cap room from last season. Compute in the incentives that players hit, and missed, last season and the Broncos are expected to operate with a salary cap of about $140 million.

Clearly, the Broncos have the money to re-sign Decker, providing they agree on his value. Decker’s production also says he’s worth it.

Keep in mind, the average annual contract value for Dwayne Bowe is $11.2 million, while it’s $9.02 million for Miles Austin. Greg Jennings ($9 million), Santonio Holmes ($8.4 million), Sidney Rice ($8.2 million) and Mike Williams ($7.92 million) are other receivers who didn’t come close to matching the total of 172 catches, 2,352 yards and 24 touchdowns Decker compiled the past two seasons.

Those were No. 2-receiver numbers on a Denver team in which Thomas compiled 186 catches for 2,864 yards and 24 touchdowns. But in a 32-team league, Decker might be undersold as a No. 2 receiver.

“I think Demaryius Thomas is on a complete different level with his talent,” Decker said. “I think he’s a top five-caliber receiver in this league. How it falls off from there, where you look at a receiver, I just try to be versatile and play all the positions. People might want to label me, but I don’t want to put a label on myself.”

Working against Decker is the potential $19 million in salaries the Broncos might have to pay Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas next year when they reach free agency, and the $6 million that Welker will draw this season.

With quarterback Peyton Manning receiving $20 million this season, spending another $8 million on Decker would inordinately overload the Broncos’ payroll budget to the skill positions of their passing game.

And if there’s a lesson the Broncos should have learned from their recent Super Bowl debacle, it’s that greater balance is needed.

In an odd twist, Manning’s brilliance might also be working against Decker. What would Decker’s numbers look like if Manning wasn’t the passer?

“To play with that caliber of quarterback, you get more targets, more opportunities,” Decker said.

Just because Manning is considered great, though, doesn’t mean Decker is bad. Sometime soon, a team is going to get one of the league’s top receivers. The question is, where to put the crib?

If Eric Decker receives a contract worth $8 million or so a year, the Broncos might try to find another “No. 2” receiver for quarterback Peyton Manning. Three free-agent receivers who might draw the Broncos’ interest (ages they will be April 1):

Emmanuel Sanders, 27, Steelers

Made 67 catches last season in his first, full-time “No. 2” opportunity.

James Jones, 30, Packers

Spent his first five seasons as No. 3 receiver, but came on the past two seasons when he averaged 62 catches, 801 yards, 8.5 touchdowns.

Golden Tate, 25, Seahawks

Had 64 catches, 898 yards, five TDs as No. 2 last season. Could also replace Decker’s punt return role.

Mike Klis, The Denver Post

Editor’s note

With NFL free agency opening March 11, The Denver Post this week is analyzing each of the Broncos’ seven potential positions of need: middle linebacker, wide receiver, guard, running back, defensive end, safety and cornerback. Tuesday, we look at receiver. Coming on Wednesday is running back.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

MONTREAL — It’s a big deal to play or coach hockey in Montreal and Toronto, and for first-year Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, it’s bound to be extra special because it will be his first time in those historic Original Six markets. Indeed, the Canadian native from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, has never been to the Bell Centre or Air Canada Centre — where...

Shortly before the season began, Holmes, who had been dealing with a nagging hip since September, finally went in to get an X-ray to get the injury addressed. That X-ray revealed a mass on his hip, and following a biopsy, doctors diagnosed Holmes with Osteosarcoma.